How many Nigerians, Ghanaians and Mozambicans have left South Africa ahead of June 30 shutdown

South Africa has processed multiple groups of foreign nationals for return to their countries of origin in recent days, with the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority overseeing operations linked to overstays and undocumented status. More than 2,400 foreign nationals have been repatriated from South Africa in coordinated operations involving Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique, as part of voluntary return and removal processes ahead of a June 30 deadline calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country. This comes amid growing protests in the country targeting undocumented immigrants.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) confirmed that 268 Nigerian nationals left South Africa on Wednesday night on a voluntary flight arranged in coordination with the Nigerian consulate. Officials said the group formed part of an ongoing process involving embassies and South African authorities. “Nothing happened along the way, so it is confirmed that we have 270 on their first flight back to Nigeria.

Of the 270, two of them are officials, so we have about 268 Nigerians that are repatriated,”said DHA’s head of immigration enforcement, Stephen van Neel. He said the process begins when embassies submit names for verification against immigration systems, followed by interviews and status checks.